Committee approves measure requiring airlines to adopt operational resiliency plans

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee adopted and favorably reported HR 3477, the Ensuring Airline Resiliency to Reduce Delays and Cancellations Act, after debate and a subsequent recorded vote request that postponed a final recorded vote until later in the markup.

Sponsors said the bill would require airlines to develop, maintain and regularly update operational resiliency strategies addressing severe weather, staffing, IT systems and cybersecurity risks and how carriers would rebuild passenger schedules after major disruptions. Representative (Larson) said the last several weeks “have highlighted the cascading impacts” from aging equipment and workforce shortages, and Representative (Cohen) described the bill as a way to ensure passengers are not “left stranded for days.”

Representative Perry opposed the bill, calling it an unnecessary private‑sector mandate that improperly delegates broad authority to the FAA and warned the provision giving the secretary discretion could lead to arbitrary requirements later. A recorded vote was requested and proceedings on the question were postponed pursuant to committee rule 6(f); when the committee later conducted the recorded vote the bill passed by recorded tally (57 yeas, 7 nays) and was ordered favorably reported to the House.

The legislation also directs the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the effectiveness of airlines’ operational resiliency plans and report to Congress. Supporters said better planning would reduce passenger hardship and strengthen the national airspace system; opponents said the measure risked overreach into day‑to‑day airline operations.